i6 



HORSE— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



When the horse is shewn out, notice if 

 he stands firm on his feet, with his weight 

 thrown boldly on his back sinews and 

 pasterns. If there is any appearance of 

 shaking or tottering of the fore limbs, in- 

 dicative of grogginess, it will be endeav- 

 ored to be diguised by the groom con- 

 tinually pulling at the bit to make him 

 shift his legs and stand advantageously. 

 A lame horse is never permitted to stand 

 still a moment, and the groom, though 

 pretending to soothe, is in reality agitat- 

 ing him, while the shrewd and crafty sel- 

 ler will most probably endeavor to with- 

 draw your scrutiny from the defective 

 point by calling your attention to his 

 spirit or playfulness. If any of these 

 maneuvers are apparent, be upon your 

 guard. The groggy horse inclines a lit- 

 tle forward at the knee, or it is readily 

 bent by the least touch behind, he rests 

 his weight on his toes, and when stand- 

 ing undisturbed brings his hind legs un- 

 der him. Some young horses, before they 

 had been backed, have this deformity 

 from malformation of the knee ; but if, in 

 addition to this bending forward, there is 

 any tremulous motion of the limbs, it is 

 a decided proof of the existence of that 

 most destructive affection, Navicular dis- 

 ease. Whatever his age, he should be re- 

 jected. Never buy a tottering horse. 



Another deception is effected by stand- 

 ing a horse up hill ; the shoulder is made 

 more sloping, and dealers, to give that 

 appearance, desire the near leg to stand 

 before the other. 



Though the dealer is perfectly justified 

 in these little maneuvers to show off his 

 goods to the best advantage, more espe- 

 cially in so fancy an article as a horse, 

 which is no more than is done and al- 

 lowed by every tradesman, the prudent 

 purchaser will not please his eye at the 

 expense of his judgment, but see the 

 horse on level ground, and with his feet 

 placed even. 



If one foot is more upright than the 

 other, that foot is diseased; the same 

 weight is not thrown on it, and the horse 

 never shams ; if it is of a different tem- 

 perature, active disease is going on ; if an 

 old standing complaint, the feet will be 

 found of different size, and possibly the 

 muscles of the arm and shoulder dimin- 

 ished in size. 



Taking our position in front of the 



horse, we examine his fore legs; that 

 they are in proper position ; that there is 

 no weakness in the pasterns, or enlarge- 

 ment of the fetlocks ; and that the feet 

 are of the same size, and stand square to< 

 the front. 



We judge of the general state of the 

 animal's health by his breathing condi- 

 tion, the brightness of his eye, the color 

 of the membrane lining the lid, and that, 

 of the membrane lining the nostril, which 

 in health is of a pale pink. If it is a florid 

 red, there is excitement of the system ; 

 and if it is pale, approaching to white, it 

 is a sign of debility. 



Each nostril should be alternately 

 closed by the hand to ascertain that the 

 air passages are not obstructed by poly- 

 pus, or enlargement of the turbinated 

 bones. 



If there is any increased discharge from 

 the nostrils, you will probably be told it 

 proceeds from slight cold; in that case, 

 an accelerated pulse and affection of the 

 eyes are usually concomitants; neverthe- 

 less, as a precautionary measure, the 

 branches of the under jaw should be felt, 

 for enlargement of the glands ; if, although, 

 enlarged, they are moveable and tender, 

 it is probably nothing more than a catar- 

 rhal affection. And here it may be neces- 

 sary to observe that in deciding upon the: 

 disease with which the horse is afflicted,, 

 it is requisite to bear in mind the age of 

 the animal. In examining the head of a 

 young horse, should the space between 

 the branches be hot, tumid and tender, 

 the membrane of the nose intensely red,, 

 with profuse discharge from both nostrils, 

 and cough and fever present itself, we 

 maymore than suspect strangles. Where, 

 however, there is neither cough or fever, 

 but one nostril, and that the left, affected, 

 the discharge lighter in color, and almost 

 transparent, yet clammy and sticky, and 

 the gland on that side adherent to the 

 jaw bone, glanders is indicated. In this 

 case, should the lining membrane of the 

 nostril be found pale, or of a leaden color, 

 with small circular ulcers, having abrupt 

 and prominent edges, there can be no 

 second opinion on the subject. 



But we caution the inexperienced ex- 

 aminer not to mistake the orifice of the 

 nasal duct, which is situated in the inner 

 side, just within the nostril on the con- 

 tinuation of the common skin of the muz- 



